“My friends and fans have given me the strength to continue and seen me through my darkest hours,” the Vanderpump Rules star Ariana Madix wrote in a statement.
For the first time since her ex Tom Sandoval and co-star on Vanderpump Rules Raquel Leviss expressed regret for the nine-year relationship that was ended by the affair, Ariana Madix is speaking out.
Where to begin? Sincere thanks go out to everyone who has shown me love and support over the past two weeks, including friends, family, and complete strangers.”
“But, she continued, “I know I’m not fighting this battle by myself. My closest friends are currently grieving this loss and reeling from this betrayal on so many levels, along with me. I hope to be able to repay each and every one of you for the love you have shown me. I am so f—-ing lucky to have the best support system in the world.”
She declared, “Run, whatever doesn’t kill me. ariana with love”
On March 1, while he was onstage with his band Tom Sandoval & the Most Extras in Los Angeles, Madix found “inappropriate” messages between Sandoval, 40, and Leviss, 28, on his phone.
Days after the discovery, a source told PEOPLE, “She was completely blindsided by this; devastated doesn’t even scratch the surface of how she feels. That betrayal is so difficult to describe in words.”
On March 7, Sandoval admitted the accusations and apologised to Madix in a post on his Instagram account. (It was the co-owner of Schwartz & Sandy’s second apology in four days; the first did not mention Madix.)
Later on Tuesday, he began, “I want to first and foremost apologise to everyone I’ve hurt through this process. I made mistakes, I was self-centered, and I took risks that hurt someone I care about. Nobody should have to experience that pain in such a traumatic and visible way.”
Sandoval continued by thinking back on his lengthy friendship with Madix. He claimed that his love for Ariana was greater than anything a camera could ever capture. I wish things had gone differently, that our bond hadn’t been so severely tarnished, and that it had ended with the same respect for her that it had started with. I owed Ariana more.”
The next day, Leviss released a statement of her own.
She continued in the statement, which was first revealed to Entertainment Tonight, “There is no excuse, I am not a victim and I must own my actions and I deeply regret hurting Ariana.
Later on March 8, Leviss gave an additional statement to PEOPLE exclusively.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, she said, “Aside from the inexcusable circumstances surrounding our relationship, my feelings for Tom have always been genuine and the result of a loving friendship.
In spite of their breakup, Sandoval and Madix were “still living together” in their Valley Village home, a representative for Sandoval told PEOPLE on March 6.
In the meantime, a source told PEOPLE that in the wake of the Sandoval and Leviss revelations, “everyone [was] rallying” around Madix.
Since this incident, Arianna has not been left alone at all, the insider claimed. They alternately visit her at her home all day long with the other girls in their friend group.”